ODU Announces Complete 2014-15 Schedule

NORFOLK, VA— Old Dominion University head basketball coach Jeff Jones announced the Monarchs will play 18 Conference USA games this season in addition to the 12-game non-league schedule for 2014-15. This year ODU will play C-USA home and home contests against Charlotte, Marshall, Western Kentucky, Rice and North Texas with single games against the other eight schools. The non-conference part of the schedule will feature home games with VCU, William & Mary, and Richmond as well as a trip to St. Thomas, VI., and the Paradise Jam Tournament in November.

“We are looking forward to our second season in Conference USA,” said ODU head coach Jeff Jones who led the Monarchs to 18 wins which tied for the nation’s top-turnarounds in total victories. “We learned a lot about the fierce competition that takes place in this league. With the tremendous talent and caliber of coaching C-USA provides, this year will be more of the same.”

The C-USA schedule will have the majority of games on Thursday and Saturday. ODU opens the league slate on the road, Jan. 4 at Charlotte. The Monarchs C-USA home opener is Jan. 15 against Rice, followed by a Jan. 17 game against North Texas.

In addition to playing home and home with Charlotte, Marshall, Rice, Western Kentucky and North Texas, ODU will play single away games at Middle Tennessee, UAB, UTSA, and UTEP and single home games against FIU, FAU, Southern Miss and LA Tech.

ODU will open the regular season on Nov. 15 at home against UNC Wilmington and host Richmond on Nov. 18th. The Monarchs will then travel to St. Thomas, VI for the Paradise Jam Tournament on Nov. 21 against LSU. Also in ODU’s bracket are Illinois State and Weber State. The other half of the bracket will have Clemson, Gardner Webb, Seton Hall and Nevada. This will be the Monarchs third trip to this tournament. ODU lost to Wisconsin in the championship game in 2005 and won the tournament title in 2010, beating Xavier.

The Monarchs return home to host VCU on Nov. 29, travel to George Mason on Dec. 3 and play five straight home games beginning with North Carolina A&T on Dec. 14, Georgia State on Dec. 17, UMES on Dec. 19, William and Mary on Dec. 22 and last year’s NCAA participant Mount St. Mary’s on Dec. 29.

ODU and LSU have never met before. The Tigers reached the second round of the NIT last year. Illinois State advanced to the semifinals of the CBI, while Weber State won the Big Sky championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament where they lost to Arizona in the second round. VCU advanced to the NCAA tournament where they lost to Stephen F. Austin while Georgia State lost to Clemson in an NIT first round game as the Tigers advanced to the semifinals.

“The non-conference schedule provides our fans, students and alumni the opportunity to see our traditional rivals like VCU, W&M, UNCW and Richmond at the Ted Constant Convocation Center,” said Jones. “Playing quality opponents will challenge us and help get us ready for the Conference USA play.”

This year’s C-USA Championships will be held in Birmingham, AL, March 11-14, hosted by UAB. The Monarchs will play an exhibition game which will be announced at a later date.

Season tickets are available for for the 2014 season, with a variety of economical packages available for adults, youth 17-and-under, families, military, and senior citizens. Fans can improve their seat location in the Ted Constant Convocation Center by becoming a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation, which also provides other benefits such as parking and hospitality room passes, while supporting scholarships for ODU student athletes. To join the ODAF, go to www.olddominionaf.com or call 757 683-6963. To order season tickets, go to www.YNotTix.com, or call 757 683-4444.